Improvement in burial-caskets



C. F. SPENCER. BURIAL GASKETS.

No. 195,669, Patented Sept.25,1877

INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES 5 1* l I v 1 N-PEYERS, PHOTO-LITHO PM WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

CHARLES F. SPENCER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

lMPROVEMENT IN BURlAL-CASKETS.

Specification forming part of L gtters Patent No. 195,669, dated September 25, 1877; application filed August 24, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. SPENoER, of-Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burial-Casket, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to an improved burial-casket or coffin, its object being to provide a hermetical seal for the same that will prevent the entrance of air, which hastens the decomposition of the corpse, or the escape of injurious and disagreeable gases resulting from the decomposition of the corpse; and to this end my invention consists in a coffin or burial-casket constructed with a groove or recess around its edge, to be filled with a suitable liquid, in combination with a lid or cover provided with a groove around the edges of its under surface, in which is secured, by means of a folded strip of rubber, a metallic strip adapted to set into the liquid in the groove of the coflin when said lid is in place, and form an air-tight seal, the rubber by which said metallic strip is held in place forming a packing to prevent the escape of the liquid, as more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved coffin or casket with the lid or cover removed; and Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section, showing the lid or cover in place.

The letterA represents the coffin or casket, which may be constructed of wood, metal, or other material. The upper edge of said coffin or casket is constructed with a groove or recess, B, entirely surrounding it, for the reception of a suitable liquid, such as molasses,

to form a seal in connection with a metallic strip, 0, on the coffin-lid.

The letter D represents the coflin or casket lid, constructed in the ordinary manner, and provided with a groove, E, arouiid its edges, so located that it will adjoin the groove in the top of the casket or coffin when the lid is in place. Within said groove is secured a metallic strip, C, by means of a folded rubber strip, F. The lower edge of said strip C oxtends below the edges of the groove E a sufficient distance to project well into the groove B in the coffin or casket when the lid is in place, and form, in connection with the liquid with which said groove is filled, a hermetical seal. The edges of the rubber strip also project slightly from the groove E, so as to pack against the edges of the coflin and prevent the escape of the liquid in its groove.

The groove or recess for the reception of the liquid is to be filled with the same after the corpse has been properly arranged in the coffin or casket, and just before the lid is finally secured thereon. This liquid may be molasses, as above stated, or any other liquid not subject to ready evaporation.

The rubber strip by means of which the metallic strip is held in place may be dispensed with, and the metallic strip secured in a groove of proper width, or in any other convenient manner; or, instead of the metallic strip, a downwardly-projecting flange may be formed directly on the coflin-lid in such position as to project into the groove containing the liquid; and the said groove, instead of being made rectangular in cross-section, as shown, may be semicircular or polygonal.

As thus constructed it will be perceived that the joint between the lid and coffin will be perfectly impervious to air so long as the groove remains filled with liquid, thus serving to hermetically seal the corpse within, retarding decomposition, and preventing the formation of disagreeable and injurious gases resulting from decomposition, as well as the escape of the same, should decomposition take place to any extent.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with the groove B, for containing liquid, in the edge of the coffin, and the coffin-lid, containing a similar groove, E, the metallic strip C and rubber strip F for confining said metallic strip in said groove, whereby a hermetical seal is formed and the liquid confined in the groove in the edge of the coffin when the lid is in place, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. F. SPENCER.

Witnesses:

CHAs. S. BAKER, A. A. MUDGE. 

